Modification of the boundary layer theory for calculating viscous drop oscillations in a uniform electrostatic field

Abstract

Capillary oscillations on the free surface of a viscous conductive liquid drop placed in an electrostatic field are calculated. In an approximation linear in stationary deformation amplitude, the drop in this field has the shape of a spheroid extended along the field. The initial problem is modified and simplified in terms of the boundary layer theory by applying an approximation that is linear in the oscillation amplitude and quadratic in the eccentricity of the drop. The accuracy of the approximate solution relative to an exact one is estimated. It is shown that, with a rise in the electrostatic field strength (with an increase in the eccentricity of the drop) and in the viscosity of the liquid, the boundary layer at the free surface of the drop becomes thicker.